cannes definitely can

Renowned for its annual Film Festival (held
in May), Cannes is a delightful place to visit at any time of year, boasting a
lovely old quarter, an up-market town centre and a glorious beach promenade:
all-in-all a spectacular setting.

This gem of the Côte d'Azur became popular in the early 19th
century as a place with a mild climate, bringing it to the attention of the
world's wealthy in search of a therapeutic winter resort. The town's fame arose from a
visit by a former Lord Chancellor of England, who stayed here, and liked the
place so much that he built a villa, and returned every year, initiating a
period of growth and leading to the development of the town as a holiday resort, and finally classified as such in 1915.

The place to be is along the infamous boulevard de la Croisette, with its luxury hotels, boutiques and Palais des Festivals, and the
wide, attractive sea front, with gardens, palm trees and a splendid sandy beach. Much of the 19th-century elegance of the town can still be seen in its grand villas, built to show off personal wealth, and, in design style, ranging from medieval castles to Roman villas. It's all a bit bizarre, but in a nice way.

The older part of town is known as Le Suquet, ranged
across a steep hill near the old port, the Vieux Port. This is the place to be for night life
and restaurants, with the nearby Tour du Mont Chevalier offering a fine view
over the beach, the bay and the tranquil Lérins Islands.

CANNES: holiday ideas

Coastal driveTake a drive across the Massif de l'Esterel, which stretches along the coastline of the Var as far as Fréjus. This is an ancient mountain
range with Mont Vinaigre as its highest peak at 614m (2,050ft). Driving the
coastal road is a dramatic sight, the rugged, reddish rocks contrasting with
the azure blue sea.

Shopping and luxuryThis is a great destination for fashion lovers, offering all the biggest names in high fashion, luxury off-the-peg clothing and jewellery.

Island visitJust a few miles away, the Lérins Islands offer delightful walks that embrace nature, history and the sea shore. There are two protected islands: St Marguerite and St Honorat. Historically, the former was a State Prison, where its most renowned resident was the Man in the Iron Mask. St Honorat has a fortified monastery, wherein the monks produce a very palatable wine.

Visit the Vieux PortThe old Suquet district runs from the stalls at the Fortville Market to the shops in Rue Meynadier, and is very much the pulsating heart of the city. The old town is higher than modern Cannes, and so offers a stunning view across the city.Anyone looking for fresh seafood and Provençal produce, will find that the Fortville market is the place to be.

GastronomyVisitors will be hard pushed not to find something to their liking; there are over 300 restaurants, bistrots and bars in Cannes, including some of the finest in the world. Not surprisingly, seafood is available almost everywhere; it just needs a chilled glass of Provençal wine to wash it down.

Festivals and eventsCannes is renowned widely for its International Film Festival, but there are many more events going on all through the year, such as the international festival of fireworks, plays and concerts.